Saturday, 20 February 2010

Pebbles in mixed media textile art

I'd like to share with you a textile project I did with a pebble theme. So, I hope you like pebbles as much as I do

I produced an "altered" sketchboook, four design boards and a finished piece of artwork so there's quite a bit to show you. Some of the techniques may be of interest to you in your projects

Pebbles hold a special place in my heart and are a recurring theme in my work (along with many other themes, of course!)

I love everything about pebbles ... where they come from, history of rock patterns and formations, their shapes, colours, textures and patterns. I most particularly like the pebbles that I find on the beach at Godrevy in Cornwall, the slate blue/grey ones with white silver quartz crystals running in lines through them. I find handling pebbles very soothing and I decorate my home with them. I love to see columns and lines of pebbles artfully arranged

So, I'm starting by showing my "altered" sketchbook. I used a vintage book called "Pebbles as a hobby" as my sketchbook as it had interesting text and pictures of rocks and pebbles

The first thing I did was make a cover for the book from silver grey dupion silk decorated with columns of pebbles on the front and back

On the front, I added a column of pebbles which I painted on to silk. I used a clear gutta outline for the pebble shapes, then coloured in using silk paints and fine table salt. When dry, I cut round the shapes and using silver metallic thread machine stitched the pebbles to the silver grey silk background

On the back there is another column of pebbles made from distressed chiffon fabric in dark grey

I distressed the chiffon by carefully heating it until it distorted and burnt a little around the edges and made a few holes. Where the chiffon distorts it alters the composition of the fabric and makes rough, darker edges which I like. I made a few "pebbles" in this way, arranged them in a column and then machine stitched them to the back of the silk book cover

To draw attention to the holes, I either machine stitched around them or added a few beads and french knots in silver thread

This last picture of the silk cover is distressed chiffon, machine stitched over printed text and highlighted with silver acrylic paint

I hope my pebbles spark an idea or two for your own projects. There is more to come

i like your pebbles project, me too i like pebbles and i have a lot of them.In my work i also use pebbles, its a creative material... great inspiration for textile working also, thank you, for your Pictures.anna

Thanks for showing your techniques. I've just started experimenting with textile art using machine embroidery, distressing etc. and find your work inspiring. I've just completed a machine embroidered piece with pebbles as a theme for a group project. The next piece we are doing uses water as a theme and we have to use sheers and metalics.My son loves pebbles and he usually comes home with a few in his pocket when we visit our local Suffolk beaches.

Your work is stunning!! and irresistibly inspiring!! While I don't intend to reproduce your unique expression, you've opened doors in my own imagination... Thank you for sharing about your techniques. Thank you from my heart of hearts.

I have a jar of rocks from my favorite island beach hanging right beside our bed. I also have a little pot of rocks from the same location, but I forget where I put those! I like them, too! Your blog is looking so lovely.

Oh Carolyn, I love everything about this post! Especially the book cover which is just stunning. I share your love of pebbles and nearly always have one in my jacket pocket which I like to fiddle with. Also have little piles of them dotted round the house and garden. Your post is inspiring and has put me in the mood for a beachcombing trip.

These are wonderful Carolyn. I love all the colours and textures. So much depth. I like to collect interesting pebbles too. They are so pleasing to the eye and to the touch. It amazes me how many colours can be found in a seemingly grey area of stoney beach!Love the new look to your blog too, especially your side areas : )

I have pebbles everywhere at home too and I always collect the when I am beachcombing (naughty I know , but I don't take too many). Back in 2004 I won a painting competition for a watercolour of pebbles. You are making me want to paint them again.

Thank you Carolyn, it is always so fascinating to get a look at another's design process. I have to admit, I love pebbles too. I have some beautifully marked ones that I picked up on the beach at Budleigh Salterton 10 years ago, and some perfectly round speckled ones picked up in Eastbourne. They are in a glass vase with limpet shells.

Hi good day ! nice post you have . It's very nice , I have plan to setting up my garden can you give me an idea or steps on how to make it beautiful. i have heard some garden accessories such as garden spinners , wind chimes , wind spinners and many more . I want to try this things in my garden but i don't know how to get the right accessories . I hope you can help me . thank you .

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THANK YOU FOR VISITING ME HERE

Currently I post my weekly collages for The Collage Workbook project on a Wednesday. I'm also continuing to work on my samples for the Surface Treatment Workshop and will share from time to time. My first love is textiles and I'm working on some personal projects at present. I shall get back to sharing textiles and free tutorials again in the future.

SHOP NEWS - I'm sorry that my online etsy shop is closed for the foreseeable future. I'm unable to take custom orders or reply to messages and enquiries at this time. I hope to re-open in the future but, for health reasons, I am taking a break from selling my work. I would like to thank each and every one of my customers for their kindness and loyalty. I will let you know when the shop is open again. Thank you.